OSHER 672 - Story into Film: It Happened One Night, The Birds, and 2001: A Space Odyssey

The 20th century was a time in which one of the most popular forms of art and means of entertainment was created -- film. The cinematic narrative has often consumed the literary one: many people would rather watch a movie than read a book. If a movie is based on a work of literature, the latter usually becomes famous only due to its adaptation. Therefore little is known about some of the short fiction many classic movies are based on. In this course, we will read the little-known short stories that inspired production of three Hollywood classics of different genres: romantic comedy, thriller, and science fiction. We will discuss and compare literary and cinematic narratives to learn the secret of a good literary basis and successful film adaptation that has taken the best of the original and developed it into a popular and cult masterpiece.